The Vestibule

• The utricle extends into the _

• These sacs:– House ___________________________________

called maculae– Respond to _______________________________

and changes in the _

The Semicircular Canals

• Three canals that lie in the _

• Membranous semicircular ducts line each canal and communicate with the utricle

• The _________________________________is the swollen end of each canal and it houses equilibrium receptors in a region called the _

• These receptors respond to _

The Cochlea

• A ______________________________, conical, bony chamber that:– Extends from the anterior vestibule– Coils around a bony pillar called the _– Contains the cochlear duct, which ends at the

cochlear apex– Contains the _

The Cochlea

• The cochlea is divided into three chambers:– Scala _– Scala _– Scala _

The Cochlea

• The scala tympani terminates at the _

• The scalas tympani and vestibuli:– Are filled with – Are continuous with each other via the _

• The scala media is filled with _

The Cochlea

• The “floor” of the cochlear duct is composed of:– The bony spiral lamina– The ____________________________________,

which supports the organ of Corti• The cochlear branch of nerve VIII runs _

Sound and Mechanisms of Hearing• Sound vibrations beat against the eardrum• The eardrum pushes against the ossicles, which

presses fluid in the inner ear against the oval and round windows– This movement sets up _

– Moving hair cells stimulates the cochlear nerve _

Properties of Sound

• – the number of waves that pass a given point in a

given time• – perception of different frequencies (we hear from

20–20,000 Hz)• – intensity of a sound measured in decibels (dB)

• – subjective interpretation of sound intensity

Transmission of Sound to the Inner Ear

• The route of sound to the inner ear follows this pathway:– Outer ear•

– Middle ear•

– Inner ear• scalas vestibuli and tympani to the _• Stimulation of the _• Generation of impulses in the _

Resonance of the Basilar Membrane

• Sound waves of low frequency (inaudible):– Travel around the helicotrema –

• Audible sound waves:– Penetrate through the cochlear duct– Vibrate the _– Excite specific hair cells according to

________________________________________ of the sound

The Organ of Corti

• Is composed of ___________________________________ and outer and _

• _____________________________________ fibers of the cochlear nerve attach to the base of hair cells

• The _– Protrude into the endolymph– Touch the tectorial membrane

Excitation of Hair Cells in the Organ of Corti

• Bending cilia: – Opens __________________________________

ion channels– Causes a

_________________________________________ and the release of a neurotransmitter

– The neurotransmitter causes cochlear fibers to transmit impulses to the brain, where sound is perceived

Auditory Pathway to the Brain• Impulses from the cochlea pass via the

__________________________to the _• From there, impulses are sent to the:

– –

• From there, impulses pass to the _• Auditory pathways _________________________ so that

both cortices receive input from both ears

Deafness• – something hampers sound conduction to the fluids

of the inner ear –

• – results from damage to the

________________________________________ at any point from the cochlear hair cells to the auditory cortical cells

Deafness

• – ringing or clicking sound in the ears in the absence

of auditory stimuli• – labyrinth disorder that affects the cochlea and the

semicircular canals, causing _

Mechanisms of Equilibrium and Orientation

• – equilibrium receptors in the semicircular canals

and vestibule– Maintains our _– Vestibular receptors • monitor _

– Semicircular canal receptors • monitor _

Anatomy of Maculae• ____________________________________are the sensory

receptors for static equilibrium– Contain supporting cells and hair cells– Each hair cell has stereocilia and kinocilium embedded in the

otolithic membrane•

– jellylike mass studded with tiny stones called _

• __________________________________ hairs respond to _

• __________________________________ hairs respond to _

Effect of Gravity on Utricular Receptor Cells

• Otolithic movement in the _

– Depolarizes vestibular nerve fibers– _________________________________the

number of action potentials generated• Movement in the _– _______________________________________

vestibular nerve fibers– ____________________________________ the

rate of impulse propagation

Crista Ampullaris and Dynamic Equilibrium

• The _– Is the receptor for

_________________________________ equilibrium

– Is located in the ampulla of each _– Responds to angular movements

• Each crista has support cells and hair cells that extend into a gel-like mass called the _

• Dendrites of vestibular nerve fibers encircle the base of the hair cells

Activating Crista Ampullaris Receptors

• Cristae respond to _____________________________________ of rotatory movements of the head

• Directional bending of hair cells in the cristae causes:–

– Hyperpolarizations, and fewer impulses reach the brain

• The result is that the brain is informed of rotational movements of the head

Balance and Orientation Pathways

• There are ______________________________ for balance and orientation– – –

• These receptors allow our body to respond reflexively